Last year, Amanuel Harvey had the opportunity to volunteer with Ithaca’s Finger Lakes ReUse. This was an experience that broadened his understanding of environmental responsibility and the impact of community-centered sustainability initiatives. Finger Lakes ReUse focuses on enhancing the community, economy, and environment by keeping usable materials in circulation instead of allowing them to become waste. While volunteering, Amanuel assisted with sorting donations, organizing items for resale, and helping community members who visited the Reuse center in search of accessible and affordable goods. Through this volunteer work Amanuel saw firsthand how Reuse benefits people from all backgrounds and walks of life. The visitors ranged from families seeking low-cost household items to kids looking for something cool, to artists looking for materials for creative projects. Each hour at the Reuse center emphasized the idea that sustainability isn’t just about environmental protection, it's also about strengthening community connections and supporting local resilience. It is through this idea that greater engagement with the sustainability movement can be achieved .This idea is both empowering and grounding. Amanuel was especially inspired by Finger Lakes ReUse’s commitment to job skills training through its Reset program, which provides paid apprenticeships and hands-on learning for individuals seeking new career paths. Witnessing how Reuse could empower people as well as protect the environment made the experience that much more meaningful. Volunteering at Ithaca ReUse showed that practical, everyday actions like diverting goods from the waste stream, can build a more inclusive, sustainable community. This volunteering experience remains an experience that continues to influence Amanuel’s outlook on community service, sustainability, and shared responsibility.
Being an MLK Scholar gives me both a sense of community and a sense of greater responsibility. The program has illuminated the great social progress that has been made in the past and it has taught me about what type of leaders will be needed in the future.